DUNSFOLD Park boss, Jim McAllister, has blasted Surrey County Council for rejecting his offer to help pay for a roundabout at a notorious accident black spot.

He is angry that work meant to improve safety on the Painshill bends of the Cranleigh to Godalming road, at its junction with Stovolds Hill, has made the situation worse for lorries trying to get to the former airfield.

“In our view what they have done is more dangerous than before,” Mr McAllister said.

“It forces articulated lorries right out into the road, which didn’t happen before,” he explained. “Now a lorry trying to turn into Stovolds Hill has to pull out in order to turn in.”

The Rutland Group chief executive is also furious the county started work on the scheme, the results of which have also alarmed both Alfold and Dunsfold parish councils, without any consultation.

“This is the largest site in Surrey with more than 100 tenants now and they did not have the courtesy to advise us of what they were planning to do,” said Mr McAllister. “The first we knew about it was when signs went up to say work would start in a few days.” He said his company had been trying to split heavy traffic between the two entrances to Dunsfold Park until a new road is built, but this had forced more traffic through Alfold.

“I offered to pay the difference between the cost of what they were doing and the cost of a roundabout and they said ‘no’,” Mr McAllister continued.

“There’s plenty of room for a proper roundabout and it would have slowed the traffic right down.” He said he made the offer during a site meeting with Alfold Parish Council chairman, Dr Jenny Masding, and county engineer, Simon Hall, but was told the authority would rather monitor it first.

The main problem for the drivers is that the kerb at the junction with Stovolds Hill has been extended, making it more of a pronounced turn into the road for traffic travelling from the A281. As a result, lorry drivers based at Dunsfold Park have boycotted the Stovolds Hill entrance and are only using the Compasses gate on the Alfold side of the airfield, much to the distress of people living in the nearby mobile home park.

The issue was raised at Dunsfold Parish Council, when chairman, Alan Ground, said: “It’s a nightmare because large lorries trying to get in can’t and go straight through Dunsfold to Alfold.”

It was also raised at Alfold Parish Council, where Dr Masding reported on her discussion with Mr Hall.

A county spokesman rejected the complaints, pointing out observations over a 40-minute period revealed two out of three articulated lorries completed the turn without crossing on to the wrong side of the road. “The third made the manoeuvre at a higher speed and tracked slightly into the opposing lane on the main road, and swept into most of the lane exiting Stovolds Hill,” she said.

“We are satisfied the largest articulated lorries can make the turn completely safely within their own lane.” If not, the height of their cab meant lorry drivers had the visibility to make the turn safely, even it did mean crossing the road, she said.

“The scheme was supported by the police and paid for as a low cost treatment. A roundabout would not have been an appropriate solution to the problem and would have been considerably more expensive.”